Charles N’Zogbia up for Aston Villa challenge

CHARLES N’ZOGBIA is ­waiting for the moment that he can make Aston Villa fans forget the £36million sale of heroes Ashley Young and Stewart Downing.

Charles N’Zogbia, left, wants to show Aston Villa fans what he can do for his £9.5m fee []

Despite being unbeaten in the league, Villa have not ignited and N’Zogbia, the £9.5m successor to wingers Young and Downing, is expected to provide lift-off.

N’Zogbia wants to become Villa’s new entertainer but is being restrained by manager Alex McLeish as he builds a new side.

Young came to Villa for £11m from Watford and turned himself into one of the best wingers in the country. N’Zogbia is looking at the same path after his move from Wigan.

N’Zogbia admits he will take extra adrenaline from playing against his old club tomorrow, but explained why Villa fans have not seen the flying winger who was feared in the Premier League.

“We have to stick to what the manager wants, play the football he wants to play and make that work,” said N’Zogbia. “Those details are not easy to work at because I’m the kind of player who likes to be on the ball and here it’s a bit more direct.”

We have to stick to what the manager wants, play the football he wants to play and make that work

Charles N’Zogbia

Villa’s last two home games have been disappointing, a 1-1 home draw with Newcastle and going out of the Carling Cup with a poor performance against Bolton.

They need to beat Wigan and turn an early season that is in the balance, with one victory and five draws, into an optimistic beginning.

McLeish, aware of the backlash that could still swamp him following his move from Birmingham, has been cautious. N’Zogbia said: “We still really have to know each other, what quality we have.

“Last year I was on top of my game because we had much more possession. At Villa it is more direct and we want to hit the striker straight away. I am on good form, I just need more confidence on the pitch, to have the ball more and that would be good for me and good for the team.”

It took Young a season to find his feet as he switched his positions, from operating on either wing, to playing off the centre-forward or even in central midfield.

N’Zogbia is currently playing left-wing but his preference is on the right. “My last two seasons were great and I was playing on the right side, that’s the position I like,” he said. “It’s where I’m really confident where to go and what to do, but now I’m playing more on the left – like I did four years ago, when I was left-back.

“I know I can do it, play left or right but, if you ask me, I’d rather play on the right. I have to accept what the manager wants from me and do my best.”

N’Zogbia’s form kept Wigan from relegation last season with nine league goals, five of those coming in the last six games.

“You don’t score nearly 20 goals in two seasons without having great talent,” said Wigan manager Roberto Martinez, who turned down the opportunity of the Villa job before McLeish was appointed.

“Charlie has it all. He has got pace, power, skill, dribbling ability, an old-fashioned winger who loves getting into one-against-one situations.”

Villa’s club calendar currently stars Ashley Young for September. N’Zogbia is ticking off the days until his date with destiny.

“I don’t see following Young and Downing as pressure, I see it as a challenge,” said N’Zogbia.

“This team has only been working together for a month and a half, so it’s just the start.

“I can be an exciting player if you play me in the right position. I’ve been exciting for two-and-a-half years playing on the right. Now I’m playing on the left, so I will play more direct, run forward and cross it for the strikers.

“I know I can do that but that’s not my best part of football. I play for the team. My friends and family, they say, ‘Charles, this is not the football you play normally’.

“I have to deal with it. I am told what I have to do, it is something that I have to learn.

“It is also a challenge. Sometimes you can win with one or two players or sometimes you win with everybody. My best part is to get on the ball, keep it, cut inside, try to set up one-twos, shoot, all the things I can do from the right side.

“I can kill any left-back, I know what my quality is, my quality is to be one-to-one, I know I can beat people easy. I’ll get more freedom as the team progresses. We are learning as a team. We have to be patient, but it is hard.”